1st post
While cleaning out the family home after mother's passing I found this fella hidden in the wall.
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Welcome to the forum. You might want to move this to the 1896-1961 area. I am guessing this is a Model 27 - it's sort of hard to tell with only one picture. If you open up the yoke, do you see anything on the frame that says something like "MOD 27"?

Quite a first post! It appears to be a pre-WW II Reigstered Magnum, not quite an antique but a sought after gun.

Can you give the serial number from the bottom of the grip frame, and the REG number from the frame under the barrel? What is the barrel length, muzzle to cylinder face?

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

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I do not believe the picture shows a Model 27.

Upon enlarging, I can see that the rear sight is of the type used on the ".357" Magnum model.

Whether it is a Registered or Non-Registered is not clear without knowing if it has the "REG" number on the frame beneath the lunette behind the crane, visible when the cylinder is open. My guess is that it is a Registered Magnum, but that part is just a guess. To me, at this angle, and in that photo, something about the hammer is nagging me, but not sure exactly what seems "off" about it - perhaps my eyes are playing tricks on me.

When enlarging the picture, I can see visible pins in the frame, which are polished to the point of being invisible on Model 27s, but not on Pre-War Magnums.

In addition, although the angle of the photo may cause a distortion, I think the front sight base appears to be set back from the end of the barrel in the manner of the Pre-War Magnums.

So, my guess is Registered Magnum, with King Red Post on King Ramp base, but without better pictures, it is hard to say for sure.

EDIT: The pictures in posts 4-7 appeared just as I hit send. It is obvious now that it is a Registered Magnum. My only question is, "why didn't I find anything like that in the wall of any grandparent?" Great find. Good luck. Just out of curiosity, how did you know where to look? Most people just don't start tearing into walls looking for things when a relative passes away. . . .

It also appears to have a King hammer and sights and those plastic Murad grips that we consider hideous now, but were popular back in the day. Congratulations on a great find!

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Kevin Williams SWCA1649 HF208

A once in a life time find. For most of us a never in a life time.

The best thing I ever found in a wall was an old andiron.

I bet we will now.

Kevin:

Thanks for the help diagnosing my "issue" with the hammer not looking quite correct. Good catch!

Best regards,

Shawn

The rest of the Story................please!

More ****** cell phone pics...
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S/N number matches under barrel, on cylinder and underneath ejector.

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This is just incredible! Are we sure this is
not a joke? A long time ago I pasted a photo
of a K-32 like new that I found in a gas station
for $400. What I did not say was that it was
in 1970!

Grandma's second husband was a Was a Dentist in the Greater Pittsburgh area. He moved to AZ in the early 70's, He was an avid bird hunter and loved to shoot skeet. He would have been in his 40's in the thirty's.

I am not a collector, I found this in a cubby hole, loaded, behind some closet shelving. I dusted it off, oiled it and tossed it in the safe not knowing what it was.

Twice a year I pull everything out to wipe and oil. It bothered me that there was no model number on it like my other Smith's.
That is how It found it's way here.

I prolly need to do my due dilgence and get the letter.

I don't have the stock grips or box or registration.

Chris.

There are no marks on the handle indicating a factory refinish or repair, I beleive it is original.

Sorry, please move if required.

Barrel length is 6 1/2"

Thanks
Chris

What a great find! The condition looks beautiful.

If I owned it I would send for a factory letter, once you receive the letter then you can contact the S&W historically foundation. They may have even more information about your revolver.

That an outstanding registered magnum!

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George Jamison

What a great find and agree with him getting a factory letter on this gun

So, the next question becomes What is the Value. Not being an expert but having seen what the RM's can command in price IMO it's likely worth over 10K in that condition, even without the correct stocks or box. Because what I can see of the finish appears to be extremely good, perhaps even nearly new.

What prompted you to tear out the wall in the first place? Were you demolishing the home?

It was in a spot completly out of sight yet easy enough to get to. the home was sold.

I am in Arizona.

I cannot see a REG number. Could it be a non registered with a 57xxx serial number?

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Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102

I am in Arizona too. And I just bought a home.
Maybe I should check to see if there are any hidden guns.

Oh my, what a gun to find.

Personally I love the King modified hammers on these. It would be hard to find anything neater while cleaning out a house, or more desirable.

Holler if you need help

Definitely a Registered Magnum from around 1938 or 39 or so. King equipped and wearing aftermarket thumb rest stocks so somebody was into bullseye shooter. A very valuable revolver. More valuable with box and original stocks but even as is worth quite a bit of money to right buyer.

My father in law was in the real estate business and said he found a number of guns left behind in houses over the years. Other things, too. After 30 days they are his so he just sold them.

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No life story has happy end.

6 1/2" was the most common barrel length for these by report. After you receive your factory letter, you can request a search for additional factory documentation via the S & W Historical Foundation:

S&WHF Letters

And here is a search about this model on the Forum - enjoy!

http://smith-wessonforum.com/searchr...d+Magnum&sa=Go

Enjoy!

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Thanks for the back story..... RM4174...mine is RM 46xx letters to 1939 and shipped to "The Burgh"

First of all, excellent find! As a lover of King Guns its right up my alley.

From viewing the pics, I would hazard a guess that the front sight was replaced by King at the time they modified the hammer; the pin securing the base to the barrel looks larger than factory to me and the color is not correct either. Nonetheless, its still a Reg Mag in original finish and the King parts make it very cool.

Someone before me mentioned it could be worth $10,000.00, I don't think its worth that much as several all original examples with original grips and boxes have sold in that range. I do however, think your Reg Mag is safely worth $4,000+ as-is.

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Kris
OGCA, NRA LM

All I found in the walls were spider webs and dust. Then the wife asked what in the heck I was doing tearing holes in the wall. Oh well some people get all the luck. I think I would go buy a lottery ticket if I was you. And yes I am green with envy.

Oh boy...what a find!! WoW!!

Holy cow!

I'm in! Crowbar, miners helmet. Sheetrock dust everywhere. I'm sure with enough effort, I'm gonna get lucky.

Wife's a little miffed. Keeps pointing out we bought the house new, from the builder.

Whatever. I'm on a mission woman, step aside!

Awesome find, congrats.

I tear down walls and find old newspapers from '57. No guns.

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Plant garlic in the fall

Great find ~ congrats!

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John
S&WCA Life Member

Here's one from 1936 that I picked up recently after first acquiring the stocks. It went to King straight from the factory...so the letter says. If you want to make yours 'righter' you need some stocks like the ones on mine.

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Guy
SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629

When they tore the walls out of my home I think they found a cockroach nest.

Oh, well, it's nice to know this can happen to SOMEONE!!!!

Excellent find!

Great find. As previously recommended get a factory letter, find a nice set of period correct grips and enjoy a highly prized revolver or reap the proceeds. Replacing the siding on time I found an old steel Schlitz beer can. Of course it was empty. kindest regards, hardcase60

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You want me to do what?

Wow that's a sweet pistol! Nice to know about the King reference. Stocks are prolly pricey.

I filled out the letter of authenticity request, added a couple of pics and will mail it tomorrow. I will post the findings when I get them.

I got a bunch of help from some great folks here.

Thanks,
Chris

So those odd hammers came from King's! Cark Gable's .357 has that hammer and a modified trigger, too. Probably King "did" both.

Gable's gun also wears stocks by Walter Roper.

No one's mentioned that that holster was by Capt. A.H. Hardy, a famous holster maker then. Jeff Cooper mentioned him in his writing.

I'm guessing that the gun wasn't stored in the holster...

Should that number in the barrel shroud/lug match one on the frame?

It was explained to me that the number below the reg. number as an assembly number.
The serial number is above the reg. number to the left.